Alberto Cavalcanti

Born in Brazil, 1897. Alberto Cavalcanti’s early career began in France between 1920 and 1933, working as writer, art director and director. He directed the avant-garde documentary Nothing But Time (“Nothing but Time”), a portrait of the lives of Parisian workers in a single day. He moved to England in 1933 to join the GPO Film Unit under ‘John Grierson (I)’ (qv,) working as sound engineer (Night Mail) then producer. He went to work for Ealing Studios during the war, initially as head of Michael Balcon‘s short film unit until 1946, again working as an art director, producer and director. His notable films as a director include Champagne Charlie, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby and I Became a Criminal. After the latter film he moved back to Brazil. There he made Song of the Sea (“The Song of the Sea”) and A Real Woman (“Woman of Truth”) with his own production company. However, his progressive political views drew suspicion from the right-wing Brazilian authorities, and he returned to Europe in 1954. Cavalcanti eventually settled in France, where he continued his work in television. He died 1982.